International education programmes as an element of educational change in the Polish education system

The main aim of the article is to present selected international education programmes implemented in Poland (International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, International General Certificate of Secondary Education) in the context of educational change. The background of the analyses is the metamorphoses in the Polish education system after the period of political transformation. Literature in the field of education policy, theory of educational systems, normative documents of educational law, European Union directives and programme documents of international organizations conducting and accrediting IB, AP, and IGCSE programmes were used for the research. The author argues that the educational change that took place after 1989 in the organization and structure of the education system made it possible to implement international education programmes and contributed to the democratization and socialization of the Polish education system. Currently, international education programmes constitute an attractive educational offer that provides a chance for continuing education at renowned foreign universities, makes it possible to efficiently find oneself on the global labour market, and also prepares young people to be active members of civil society, guided by such values of political and social life as respect for human rights, democracy, solidarity, freedom of speech, and tolerance.